diff --git a/examples/priority_queue.jl b/examples/priority_queue.jl
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/examples/priority_queue.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+# These functions define a min-heap
+# Example usage of the Heap object:
+# You can create an empty min-heap this way:
+#   h = Heap(Float64)
+# This defaults to using isless for comparison.
+# A more complex and complete example, yielding a max-heap:
+#   h = Heap(>,rand(3))
+#   for i = 1:10
+#     push!(h,rand())
+#   end
+#   length(h)
+#   max_val = pop!(h)
+#  
+# Example using pure vectors (avoids making any copies):
+#   z = rand(8)
+#   vector2heap!(z)
+#   isheap(z)
+#   min_val = heap_pop!(z)
+#   heap2rsorted!(z)
+
+
+## Function definitions for operating on vectors ##
+
+function _heapify!{T}(lessthan::Function,x::Vector{T},i::Int,len::Int)
+    # Among node i and its two children, find the smallest
+    il = 2*i;  # index of left child
+    if il > len
+        return
+    end
+    ismallest = lessthan(x[il],x[i]) ? il : i  # index of smallest child
+    if il < len
+        ismallest = lessthan(x[il+1],x[ismallest]) ? il+1 : ismallest
+    end
+    if ismallest != i
+        # Put the smallest at i
+        tmp = x[ismallest]
+        x[ismallest] = x[i]
+        x[i] = tmp
+        # Recursively re-heapify
+        _heapify!(lessthan,x,ismallest,len)
+    end
+end
+
+function vector2heap!{T}(lessthan::Function, x::Vector{T})
+    for i = convert(Int,ifloor(length(x)/2)):-1:1
+        _heapify!(lessthan,x,i,length(x))
+    end
+end
+function vector2heap!{T}(x::Vector{T})
+    vector2heap!(isless,x)
+end
+
+function isheap{T}(lessthan::Function, x::Vector{T})
+    for i = 1:convert(Int,ifloor(length(x)/2))
+        i2 = 2*i
+        if !lessthan(x[i],x[i2])
+            return false
+        end
+        if i2 < length(x) && !lessthan(x[i],x[i2+1])
+            return false
+        end
+    end
+    return true
+end
+function isheap{T}(x::Vector{T})
+    isheap(isless,x)
+end
+
+function heap_push!{T}(lessthan::Function, x::Vector{T},item::T)
+    # append new element at the bottom
+    push(x,item)
+    # let the new item percolate up until it has a smaller parent
+    i = length(x)
+    ip = convert(Int,ifloor(i/2))  # index of parent
+    while i > 1 && lessthan(x[i],x[ip])
+        # swap i and its parent
+        tmp = x[ip]
+        x[ip] = x[i]
+        x[i] = tmp
+        # traverse up the tree
+        i = ip
+        ip = convert(Int,ifloor(i/2))  # index of parent
+    end
+end
+function heap_push!{T}(x::Vector{T},item::T)
+    heap_push!(isless,x,item)
+end
+
+function heap_pop!{T}(lessthan::Function, x::Vector{T})
+    min_item = x[1]
+    x[1] = x[end]
+    pop(x)
+    _heapify!(lessthan,x,1,length(x))
+    return min_item
+end
+function heap_pop!{T}(x::Vector{T})
+    min_item = heap_pop!(isless,x)
+    return min_item
+end
+
+function heap2rsorted!{T}(lessthan::Function, x::Vector{T})
+    for i = length(x):-1:2
+        tmp = x[1]
+        x[1] = x[i]
+        x[i] = tmp
+        _heapify!(lessthan,x,1,i-1)
+    end
+end
+function heap2rsorted!{T}(x::Vector{T})
+    heap2rsorted!(isless,x)
+end
+
+
+
+## Heap object ##
+
+type Heap{T}
+    lessthan::Function
+    data::Array{T,1}
+
+    function Heap(lessthan::Function,x::Array{T,1})
+        data = copy(x)
+        vector2heap!(lessthan,data)
+        new(lessthan,data)
+    end
+end
+Heap{T}(lessthan::Function,x::Vector{T}) = Heap{T}(lessthan,x)
+Heap{T}(x::Vector{T}) = Heap{T}(isless,x)
+Heap{T}(lessthan::Function,::Type{T}) = Heap{T}(lessthan,zeros(T,0))
+Heap{T}(::Type{T}) = Heap{T}(isless,zeros(T,0))
+
+function push!{T}(h::Heap{T},item::T)
+    heap_push!(h.lessthan,h.data,item)
+end
+
+function pop!{T}(h::Heap{T})
+    min_item = heap_pop!(h.lessthan,h.data)
+    return min_item
+end
+
+function length{T}(h::Heap{T})
+    return length(h.data)
+end
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